If Manchester United officials thought burning the tapes of Roy Keane's explosive MUTV interview would keep a lid on their captain's criticism of his team-mates, then they were in for a nasty shock today. Splashed across today's Daily Mirror were alleged excerpts from Monday's video, reportedly pulled at the insistence of chief executive David Gill, who deemed the piece too candid for broadcast.

Keane's most stinging vitriol was reserved for Ferguson's record signing, Rio Ferdinand. "Just because you are paid £120,000-a-week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you are a superstar," Keane is quoted as saying. "The younger players have been let down by some of the more experienced players. They are just not leading.

"There is a shortage of characters in this team. It seems to be in this club that you have to play badly to be rewarded. Maybe that is what I should do when I come back. Play badly."

The video, originally scheduled as part of the Roy Keane Plays the Pundit slot on MUTV, saw the Irishman reportedly continue with his condemnation of the team, especially for their performance in the 4-1 weekend defeat at Middlesbrough. "I wasn't surprised by the result," he is said to have added. "I had been expecting one like this.

"The players have been asked questions and they are just not coming up with the answers. I am sick of having to say it and they are sick of listening to me. They have let down the club, the manager and the fans. When they sign their contracts, they think they have made it. They owe it to the manager, the staff and the fans.

"The fact they are out should be enough incentive for those coming in to play better and give more. There is talk about putting this right in January and bringing new players in. We should be doing the opposite - we should be getting rid of people in January."